Australian man arrested in Thailand after 17-year-old girl's body found in suitcase

An Australian national has been taken into custody in Thailand after police discovered the body of a 17-year-old Thai girl inside a suitcase near a railway track in Pattaya, with investigators examining forensic evidence before deciding on formal charges, authorities said on Saturday.

The 46-year-old suspect, who denies any involvement in the teenager's alleged abduction and murder, was arrested following an interrogation, according to a police official in the resort city.

Investigators await forensic findings

Police said they were awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination, along with other evidence, before proceeding with charges.

According to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the charges under consideration include child abduction, murder, concealing a corpse and "abduction of a minor for sexual purposes".

Suspect arrested at Bangkok airport

Media reports said the suspect was detained on Friday at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport while attempting to buy a ticket to Perth, Australia.

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CCTV footage reportedly showed the man entering a condominium in Pattaya during the early hours of Thursday with the 17-year-old girl.

Several hours later, he was seen leaving the building carrying a large black suitcase, which he transported on the back of a motorbike, according to the reports.

Police later recovered the suitcase near a railway track on Friday and found the teenager's body inside. Local news outlet Pattaya News reported that the victim's body bore signs of violence.

The incident comes after Thailand last month reduced the duration of visa-free stays for tourists following a series of high-profile cases involving foreign nationals accused of drug offences, sex trafficking and operating unlicensed businesses.